When Caroline’s car is mistakenly stolen in a prank gone wrong, love is the last thing on her mind. She’s on her way to meet the birth mother who gave her up thirty-five years ago, and she needs to reach her destination as soon as possible. She wants nothing to do with Levi, the handsome prankster responsible for her delay, but his offer to make amends by driving her seems the quickest option. … option.
Unexpected circumstances further delay the long-awaited reunion, and Caroline soon finds herself depending on the charming stranger for more than just transportation.
As the mystery of her family origins continues to unfold, Caroline begins to examine her present life and consider what she wants for her future. Will learning the truth about her past help this divorced mother of two accept a new love and a new beginning for her and her children?
Welcome to the small town of Cedar Creek! Get to know the families, solve the mysteries, and prepare to fall in love…
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When reading the blurb for Building Fences, I honestly wasn’t expecting to enjoy the story as much as I did. I’m stingy with my ratings, so to have this story grab me enough to hand out 5 stars may require a little explaining. Contemporary romances are not my favs, but I’ve enjoyed this author’s other works, such as her romantic suspense story A Ghost in the Curve, so thought I’d give this a go. I’m so glad I did! To me, the adoption and seeking out the birth mother was the backstory. What got this reader’s attention was one kind hearted cowboy by the name of Levi Parker, and how he took a chance on a divorced mother of two. “I went to sleep with a smile on my face, and I dreamed of the brown-haired, brown-eyed cowboy who had stolen my heart.”
Caroline Miller is a newly divorced mother who’s just trying desperately to keep her life from falling completely apart. Married to a man who selfishly controlled her for years, Caroline steps out of her comfort zone when she’s asked to take a leap of faith with a complete stranger. Levi Parker can’t quite put his finger on what it is about Caroline, but his heart is telling him she’s the one…if he can only convince her he’s ready to give up his bachelor ways. “I want you in my life. Whatever that looks like, however we have to work it out to make it possible. It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to go back to the life I had without you.”
Violet Howe has written a second chance romance that I could not put down nor did I want it to end! Highly recommend!
*Received ARC for honest review*
Not what I expected…not at all! And I have to say I’m sooo mad at myself for waiting to read this book! I can already predict that this book will be in my top 5 books read and reviewed for 2019…maybe even my number 1 for the year.
There are so many levels to this book that touch an array of emotions. Caroline is a divorcee raising 2 kids while trying to stay in the good graces of her ex-husband; not to please him but for the kids. In the meantime, Caroline has recently decided to search out her birth mother and discovers her birth mother had been seeking her out too.
This story is so much bigger than a daughter discovering who her birth mother is.
It’s about second chances.
Now here’s why I absolutely love love this book: Levi Parker
He is my new book boyfriend and Caroline’s second chance at love. (I won’t spoil the story of what unfolds but I’m in love with Levi’s character)
Violet writes a story that well thought out in regards to what a single mom must consider before she puts her own needs first. Caroline’s kids come first and will always come first – I love and respect that 🙂
Full review coming soon on the PlumReport
Was an amazing read… Definitely recommend it…
This is my first read from this author and I am in love. I enjoyed the book very much. It totally gave me the feels and I loved very minute of it. Would definitely read more from this author.
Building Fences by Violet Howe
Cedar Creek Families book 1. Contemporary romance.
Caroline meets Levi on the way to meet her birth mother. Complications and small town situations have the two spending time together and their attraction to each other grows.
Heartwarming and lovely, this single mother takes a chance on multiple issues. Her first description of her stay at home status is empowering and thoughtful. She thinks when she doesn’t have custody of the children for a weekend that’s she depressed but in truth, she just needed purpose. She finds that and it’s so fulfilling.
I enjoyed Caroline’s building relationships and her finding home. It’s a book I stayed up way too late reading so I could get resolution and that satisfying wrap up.
The various Cedar Creek series are all loosely connected by town and family connections but don’t need to be read together.
“Who builds all these fences?” Ethan asked.
“ Levi has a crew that manages that now, but I have to say, I miss the days when I’d head out with the boys to spend hours putting posts in the ground or repairing fenceline. There’s nothing like the steady labor of building fences to give you time to think. Clear your head. I spent many a year building fences in my youth. Fences keep things you don’t want out, and keep what we value most in. They also remind us to pay attention to what’s right in front of us rather than spending all our time gazing off into the horizon for what might be. Or what might’ve been.”
Excerpt from Building Fences by Violet Howe
Holy Hanna, This book rocks!
I can’t say enough about this book. The characters are awesome. The writing is superb. And I couldn’t put it down, which is why I am writing this review at 4:02 in the morning.
I just want to say thank you to the author for writing such a beautiful story. It spoke to me on so many levels. It was good to see adoption addressed positively showing different points of view of that story. I loved the strong family dynamics and loyalty and support of friends.
It made me laugh, cry, and smile with happiness warming my heart.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. Especially to those who love a good small-town romance.
Loved the book and the authors writing style. She is a divorced mom of two. Her ex shows up for a camping trip with the kids in a two seat sports car. Rather than disappoint the kids she lends him her van. She finds out while they are gone that her birth mother has been located and is in a coma but wanted to meet her. She gets caught up in a prank and her car which was getting new tires is missing. The thief turns out thought it was someone else car. and thats how they meet. She is determined toast her birth mother questions but in the interim she is enveloped by car thief and his family and friends. Beautiful story of awomans growth after divorce.
Starting Over
Caroline had known she was adopted since she was 7, but didn’t look for her birth mother until she was older. Now she is a mom of two, divorced and having to move. The weekend her ex actually takes her kids she get a call that her birth mother wants to see her and it’s a start to answering questions and new beginnings for her and her children and a wonderful man named Levi.
Loved it! I couldn’t put this book down!
A woman’s struggles to find out about her past. This was a good read and showed how great relationships can be built.
Enjoyed reading this book as well as “Building Fences”. It is a novel, but I would like to know what else will happen in these families!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters were all very well done, with totally believable interactions and personalities. I loved Caroline’s interaction with her teenage daughter, and often laughed out loud to see the same thoughts and events happen to them as in my own life. I usually steer clear of series just to save my budget, but this is one I will be looking forward to the next book. The ending was good. Not as complete as I had hoped, but enough that I could walk away… if I didn’t want to read more from this talented author. Typos were extremely rare (I can only think of one) and the language and flow was spot on. Great read!
Loved the characters – so like real life!
terrible X husband
Loved how the characters developed together throughout the story.
Building Fences features probably one of the funniest meet-cutes I’ve read recently. Plus, it gave me ALL THE FEELS. <3
Caroline and Levi were easy to root for, and the supporting cast of characters made me want to read more books about the folks of Cedar Creek.
This is the first book by this author I've read, but I have already two more on my Kindle, and I suppose more titles from her backlist will soon follow.
4.5 / 5
Enjoyed the story and the characters drew me in!
I enjoyed reading the book, but although it was a short time ago it was not memorable. It was a satisfying, pleasant read, but again, did not leave me with a lasting impression.
Great book! I’ve read two of Ms. Howe’s books and I look forward to reading more.
This book grabbed me from the first sentence. Loved the characters and the story line of Caroline meeting her birth mother. If you have never read any of Violet Howe’s books you need to. You won’t be sorry. She’ll have you hooked!!